Dictionary Definition
outfall n : the outlet of a river or drain or
other source of water
User Contributed Dictionary
Derived terms
Extensive Definition
An outfall is the discharge point of a waste
stream into a body of water; alternatively it may be the outlet of
a river, drain or a
sewer where it discharges
into the sea, a lake or the like.
A wastewater treatment system
discharges treated effluent to a water body from an outfall. An
ocean outfall may be
conveyed several miles offshore, to discharge by nozzles at the end of a spreader
or T-shaped structure. Outfalls may also be constructed as an
outfall tunnels or subsea tunnels and discharge effluent to the
ocean via one or more risers with nozzles.